In article . com,
"Robert M. Gary" wrote:

On Jul 23, 4:30 pm, "karl gruber" wrote:
"

The MDA is 1120 unless you have DME. If you have DME then the MDA is 680
once you pass CULVE. You cannot descend below 1120 prior to CULVE even if
you see the runway unless you either cancel, get a contact approach, or a
visual approach.

If you have DME, IFRGPS, or ATC Radar, you can descend to 680 past
BEVEY............that is simply what that chart reads.

Karl

I'm still a bit confused. When I first looked at the chart I assumed
that you had to have 1120 at CULVE and could go down to 680 after
CULVE. Then looking at it again, it seemed that you could go to 680 at
BEVEY since the 680 is modifying the restriction of 1120 at CULVE
(very, very, scarry with those buildings around). However, looking at
it again, I'm not sure what purpose CULVE would serve if that was the
case. I wonder if this chart meets the FAA requirements because it
seems to be a bit ambiguous. I can't honestly believe that the FAA
would want airplanes at 680 from BEVEY (or anyone who has seen the
approach VFR would want to do that IMC).


Robert -- you're right, and Karl has (rather graciously, I have to
admit) apologised else-thread for misreading the chart. Having looked at
the NACO plates I still find it a little difficult to see how people are
misreading them -- the asterisk next to CULVE on the NACO profile view
refers to the note specifying that if SMO tower is closed, you must use
DME to identify CULVE. It does not affect the unambiguous underlined
1120 step altitude between BEVEY and CULVE in any way. The minimums box
below that is very clear -- 1120 unless you can identify CULVE, in which
case 680; and the latter only applies after CULVE.

As you say, the idea that anyone would descend below 1120 much before
CULVE on that approach in IMC is really scary -- there are significant
buildings in the area with heights above 680' close to the approach...

Hamish